Plate for camera equipment

ABSTRACT

A plate provides clearance between a camera and a quick-release receiver securing the camera to a support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/034,986, filed Sep. 28, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S patentapplication Ser. No. 16/594,667, filed Oct. 7, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.10,824,056, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/016,532, filed Jun. 22, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,474,011, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/629,816, filedJun. 22, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,012,891, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/161,008 filed May 20, 2016, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,720,306, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/633,733, filed Feb. 27, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,372,383,which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No.61/953,467, filed Mar. 14, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bracket suitable for interconnectingcamera equipment and a support for camera equipment and, moreparticularly, to an L-plate bracket facilitating changing theorientation of a supported camera equipment between landscape andportrait orientations.

Camera equipment often includes a threaded receptacle for attaching theequipment to a head mount of a tripod, monopod or other support. Acamera may be attached directly to a head mount of a support by a screwprojecting from the head mount but a quick-release mounting system iscommonly used to secure camera equipment, particularly higher end cameraequipment, to a tripod or other support. A quick-release camera mountingsystem typically includes a plate that is securable to the camera' bodyby a screw that is engageable with the threaded receptacle in the bottomof the camera. The screw projecting from the head mount provides a meansof securing a receiver to the tripod or other camera support. Aprojection or taper of the camera plate engages a complementary grooveor taper of the receiver and the camera plate is typically secured inthe receiver by a clamp or other quick-release mechanism. For example,many makers of photographic equipment utilize a quick-release systemdeveloped by camera equipment maker Arca-Swiss, International. TheArca-Swiss or arca-type quick-release system utilizes a dovetail tenonin the form of a 38 mm wide plate having at least two opposing edgessloping at 45 degrees. The plate is receivable and securable in areceiver by opposing sloping dovetail surfaces of a clamp, usuallyoperable by a lever or screw, such as the quick-release clamp describedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,172. The receiver may be attached to the headmount or, more commonly, to an intermediate attaching device, such as aballhead, pan head or gimbal head, affixed to the head mount.

A ballhead typically comprises a ball which has a radially projectingstem and which is supported in a socket in the ballhead's body. The bodyof the ballhead is secured to the head mount of a tripod or othersupport by the screw projecting from the head mount and engaging athreaded aperture in the bottom of the ballhead's body. Camera equipmentor a receiver, such as a clamp of a quick-release system, is attached tothe end of the stem projecting from the ball by a screw threaded into alongitudinally extending aperture in the stem. The ball and socket jointenables rotation of the ball in the body of the ballhead and the body,typically, includes a mechanism enabling constriction of the socket tolock the ball and the attached camera equipment in a desired attituderelative to the support. While the ball can be rotated 360° around thelongitudinal axis of the stem, rotation in directions transverse to theaxis of the stem is limited by interference between the stem and theedge of the ballhead's body.

The body of a ballhead may include one or more drop notches providingclearance for the stem to rotate 90° in a direction transverse to theaxis of the stem enabling the camera equipment to be moved from alandscape orientation to a portrait orientation and vice versa. Changingthe orientation of camera equipment attached to a ballhead fromlandscape to portrait or vice versa can be problematic. The cameraequipment is offset relative to the center of rotation of the ball andas the ball is rotated in directions transverse to the longitudinal axisof the stem the camera shifts both horizontally and vertically. If thecamera equipment is heavy, the horizontal movement of the weight maydestabilize the support and the vertical displacement of the camera maymake using the viewfinder difficult. In addition, shifting the locationof the camera's lens will change the setup for the shot particularly ifthe subject is close, for example, when shooting a macro. It may benecessary to move the tripod to compensate for the change in therelative positions of the camera and the subject. In addition, if thesupport is not sitting on a level surface, it may not be possible torotate the ball far enough to attain the portrait orientation before thestem of the ball makes contact with the bottom of the drop notch.

Attaching camera equipment to a support with an L-plate or L-bracketavoids the need to utilize a ballhead drop notch when switching asupported camera from landscape orientation to portrait orientation orvice versa. An L-plate includes a first portion attachable to the bottomof the camera's body and a second portion partially wrapping around thecamera's body to extend normal to the first portion and parallel to theside of the camera's body. Each portion of the L-plate includes aretention feature, for example, a tenon of a dovetail, enablingengagement with a receiver portion, for example, an Arca-Swiss typequick-release clamp, when the camera equipment is in either one of thetwo perpendicular photographic orientations. To switch a camera from alandscape orientation to a portrait orientation, the photographerreleases the quick-release device, rotates the camera ninety degrees,and engages and locks the mounting feature of the second portion of theL-plate in the receiver of the quick release system. The camera's lensis, typically, substantially centered with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the L-plate's two mounting features and movement of the lensrelative to the head mount of the support is minimized when the camera'sorientation is changed.

While an L-plate facilitates photography with a tripod, monopod or othersupport, use of an L-plate with a digital camera can be problematic.Digital cameras are commonly connectable to remote devices, such as acomputer, a printer or a video monitor, for downloading and viewingimages and video captured with the camera. In addition, remoteaccessories, such as a microphone, a flash unit or a remote shuttercontrol switch, may be connected to the camera. The connectors for thecable assemblies connecting these remote devices to the camera arecommonly located behind one or more doors on the side of the camera'sbody and when the L-plate and camera are turned for the portraitorientation, there is, typically, insufficient distance between the bodyof the camera and the L-plate and/or the receiver of the quick-releasesystem to accommodate passage of the cable assembly(ies) connecting thecamera to the remote device(s). A cable relief spacer may be insertedbetween the L-plate and the receiver to provide clearance for connectorsand cables but this is, typically, a small, loose piece which can beeasily misplaced and may not be carried with the camera equipment and,therefore, may be unavailable when needed. Also, the interconnection ofthe L-plate to the camera tends to be awkward, and the adjustment of theL-plate tends to be limited and complicated, and the L-plate tends toincrease the instability to supporting the camera.

What is desired therefore is a mounting device that permits theorientation of supported camera equipment to be changed in a moreefficient manner that does not unduly increase the instability tosupporting the camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a camera attached in a landscapeorientation to a tripod mounted ballhead with an extendible L-plate.

FIG. 2 is a top view and side view of the L-plate.

FIG. 3 is a pictoral view of the L-plate.

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the L-plate.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view and side view of the L-plate.

FIG. 6 is a cut away view of the L-plate.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an upward leg of the L-plate.

FIG. 8 is a is a side view of an upward leg of the L-plate.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an upward leg of the L-plate.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the L-plate in two parts.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a screw.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a screw and opening.

FIG. 13 is a top view of a screw.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a handle.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a handle.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of a camera with the L-plate attached theretoin a retracted position.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the camera with the L-plate attached theretoin an extended position.

FIG. 18 a front view of the camera with L-plate attached thereto in anextended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in detail to the drawings where similar parts are identifiedby like reference numerals, and, more particularly to FIG. 1, to providestability and to reduce blurring, photographic equipment 20, forexample, a camera body 48, a lens and one or more accessories, is oftenaffixed to a support, such as a tripod 22 or monopod. While cameraequipment 20 can be attached directly to a tripod 22 or other support,cameras are commonly affixed to a support with an intermediate device,such as a ballhead 24, pan head or gimbal head which is usually securedto the head mount 26 of the support by a screw that projects upwardthrough the head mount into threaded engagement with a threaded aperturein the body of the intermediate device. A ballhead 24 comprisesgenerally a ball 28 which is retained in a socket 30 in the ballhead'sbody 32. The ball 28 typically includes a radially projecting stem 34 towhich the photographic equipment or a receiver of a quick-release systemis attached. The ball-in-socket joint enables unlimited rotation of theball about the longitudinal axis of the stem 34 and limited rotation ofthe ball in directions transverse to the stem's axis. The ballhead'sbody 32 typically includes a mechanism enabling constriction of thesocket to hold the ball and the camera equipment in a position desiredby the photographer.

Rotation of the ball 28 in directions transverse to the longitudinalaxis of the stem 34, is limited by interference between the stem and theupper edge 36 of the ballhead's body. The bodies of many ballheadsinclude one or more drop notches 38 in the upper surface of the body toprovide additional clearance for the stem enabling the orientation ofthe camera to be shifted between a landscape orientation with the lowersurface 46 of the camera's body 48 arranged substantially horizontal anda portrait orientation with the lower surface arranged substantiallyvertical. However, utilizing a drop notch of a ballhead to change cameraorientation can be problematic because the location of the lens and thecenter of mass of the photographic equipment move horizontally andvertically as the camera is rotated about the center of the ball indirections transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stem. This cancause the support to become unstable and may substantially alter thesetup of a shot, particularly when the subject to be photographed andthe camera are close to each other.

FIG. 1 illustrates a photographic equipment mounting assembly 40,commonly referred to as an L-plate or L-bracket, comprising a basemember or plate 42 and a side member or plate 44 projectingsubstantially normal to the base plate to wrap around and extendparallel to the side of the camera's body 48. Referring also to FIGS. 2,3, and 4 the base plate 42 of the extendible L-plate 40 preferably hasan upper camera body interface portion 60 adapted to receive andrestrain the lower surface 46 of the body 48 of a camera. At least oneof the edges 62 of the upper portion 60 of the base plate preferablyprojects upward from the longitudinal center 64 of the upper portion todefine a shallow receptacle shaped for close fitting engagement with thelower surface of the camera's body. This receptacle restrains the cameraagainst twisting about an axis normal to the surface of the upperportion without the need for an intervening layer of friction materialwhich could enhance vibrational freedom of the camera. The interfaceportion of the base plate also includes a feature enabling the baseplate to be secured to the body of the camera. While other securingfeatures such as a latch might be used to secure a camera to a baseplate, cameras commonly include a threaded aperture in the lower portionof the body which is engageable by a screw 66 that projects upwardthrough the upper surface of the base plate 42. Preferably, the screw issecured in the base plate. For example, the screw may include a shankwith an unthreaded portion proximate the screw's head which permits thescrew to rotate in a tapped hole in the base plate without backing out.

Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower portion of the base plate 42includes an L-plate retention feature comprising a first central raisedportion 68 having depressed central portion 70 and a general shape, in aplan view, of the letter U. Opposing peripheral surfaces of the legs 72,74 each comprise a surface portion 76, 78 sloping (e.g., arranged at aforty-five degree angle) so that the cross-section has the shape anddimension of a dovetail tenon and, preferably, the tenon portion of anArca-Swizz quick-release system. Camera equipment may be attached to aballhead 24 or other attaching device in the landscape orientation byengaging the base plate 42 of the L-plate 40 with a receiver 36 of aquick-release system, for example, a clamp of the Arca-Swizzquick-release system, which is attached to the stem 34 of the ballhead.To secure the base plate 42 in the receiver 36, the Arca-Swizz receivertypically comprises a lever 45 or screw operated clamping body 43 withsloping opposed jaw surfaces arranged to engage and clamp the slopingsurfaces 76, 78 of the base plate 42.

Referring also to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 a side plate 44 includes anengagement portion 45. A second central raised portion 80, projectsoutward at the longitudinal center of the depressed central portion 70of the first raised portion 68. The second central raised portion 80includes a pair of legs 93 and 95. The second central raised portion 80is discontinuous comprising an opening 82 enabling location of thecamera securing element, the screw 66, at the center 83 of the baseplate.

The side plate 44 of the L-plate 40 includes a lower leg 102 and anupper leg 104 that projects substantially normal to the lower leg.Referring also to FIG. 10, in an elevation view, the lower leg 102 ofthe exemplary side plate has the general shape of a rectangular tubesection defining a central aperture. The generally parallel verticallegs 93, 95 of the lower leg 102 have generally rectangularcross-sections with opposing peripheral surfaces. The lower leg 102comprises second L-plate mating feature securable by engagement with thebase plate 42. In particular, the base plate 42 and the lower leg 106include matching sloping surfaces 101A, 101B, and 103A, 103B. Thesloping matching services inhibit rocking movement of the lower leg 106with respect to the base plate 42. The lower leg 102 of the side plate44 has a generally rectangular cross-section preferably having adimension approximating the width of the depressed central portion 70 ofthe base plate 42. The upper surface 80 of the lower leg 102 includesthe opening 82 extending a substantial portion of the length of thefirst central raised portion 68 of the base plate 42.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, the screw 66 includes asocket head cap screw 67 for securing with a tool. In addition, thescrew 66 includes a foldable thumb screw 69.

By loosening and tightening the screw 66, the location of the side plate44 relative to the camera can be modified. In addition, the legs 72, 74define a restricted region 107 that prevents the side plate 44, and inparticular an expanded region 109, from extending past a predefineddistance. Also, a recessed portion 111 is suitable to receive thefoldable thumb screw 69. FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the sliding of theside plate 44 relative to the base plate 42.

Also, the legs 72, 74 have adjacent inner chamfer (e.g., 60 degree) thatassist with aligning and squaring up the L-component to the basecomponent when the thumb screw is engaged.

Referring also to FIG. 1, the camera equipment 20 can be attached to atripod 22, monopod, or other support in the landscape orientation, e.g.the bottom surface 46 of the camera's body 48 substantially horizontal,by engaging the dovetail tenon of the base plate 42 with the cooperatingdovetail clamping surfaces of a clamp portion 43 of a quick-releasereceiver 36 affixed to the support. To switch the camera to the portraitorientation, e.g. with the bottom surface 46 of the camera substantiallyvertical, the user releases the clamp of the quick-release receiver anddisengages the dovetail tenon of the base plate from the receiver. Ifthe camera is not attached to a remote device by cabling that wouldinterfere with the receiver, the camera equipment 20 can be rotated tothe portrait orientation and the dovetail surfaces of the side plate 44inserted into the clamping body 43 of the receiver 36 and secured.

However, it may be desirable to connect the camera to one or moreremotely located accessories, such as a microphone, shutter controlswitch or a flash unit. In addition, digital cameras are commonlyconnected to remote devices, such as, a computer, printer or videomonitor to enable transferring and viewing images and video capturedwith the camera. To enable communication with remote devices andaccessories, a digital camera commonly includes portions of one or morecable connectors, such as an Ethernet connector or an N-type connector,located behind one or more doors in the side of the camera's body.Plural cable assemblies connect the exemplary camera equipment to one ormore remote devices or accessories (not shown). Each cable assemblyincludes an appropriate connector portion, such as, a universal serialbus (USB) connector, a high definition multi-media interface (HDMI)connector, an N-type connector or other connector utilized incommunicating with the specific remote device or accessory. Connectorsand cables of some cable assemblies extend distal of the engaging faceof the side plate and would interfere with the receiver if the camerawas turned to the portrait orientation.

Referring to FIGS. 16, 17, and 18, to extend the L-plate 40, the userloosens the screw and the base plate and the side plate are slid awayfrom each other while remaining connected by the screw 66. By extendingthe L-plate, clearance can be provided between the camera's body 48 andthe side plate 44 providing clearance for cable assemblies projectingfrom the side of the camera body.

The two-piece extendable L-plate provides clearance between a camerabody and the apparatus securing the camera to a support for cablesconnected to the side of the camera permitting the camera to besupported on a tripod or other support in either landscape or portraitorientation without the use of a separate spacer element.

The detailed description, above, sets forth numerous specific details toprovide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention maybe practiced without these specific details. In other instances, wellknown methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not beendescribed in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention.

All the references cited herein are incorporated by reference.

The terms and expressions that have been employed in the foregoingspecification are used as terms of description and not of limitation,and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, ofexcluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portionsthereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is definedand limited only by the claims that follow.

I (we) claim:
 1. A camera mounting assembly for adjustably mounting a camera on a vertical support comprising: (a) a base member having an upper portion configured to support a lower surface of the camera and a lower portion forming an opposite pair of lower inclined edges; (b) a side member forming an opposite pair of side inclined edges; (c) a fastening element configured to detachably fasten together said side member and said base member such that when the lower surface of the camera is supported by the base member, at least a portion of the side member is aligned with a side surface of the camera and configured such that a pair of moveable jaws of a quick-release mechanism is selectively engageable with the lower inclined edges and side inclined edges to adjustably mount the camera in a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation, respectively, while maintaining the camera in a generally centered position over the vertical support, said fastening element comprising a movable member accessible from a bottom surface of said base member when said lower surface of said camera is supported by said base member where movement of said movable member detachably enables said side member to slide with respect to said base member when said camera is supported by said base member, said movable member movable in a first manner that permits said side member to slide with respect to said base member in such a manner to modify the spacing between said side member and said side surface of said camera when said lower surface of said camera is said supported by said base member, said movable member movable in a second manner that prevents said side member to slide with respect to said base member in such a manner to maintain the spacing between said side member and said side surface of said camera when said lower surface of said camera is said supported by said base member, said base member being free from extending along a substantial portion of said side surface of said camera when said camera is supported by said base member and said side member is detached from said base member; (d) wherein said base member defines a retaining structure between said upper portion, said opposite pair of lower inclined edges, and a lower surface of said base member; (e) wherein said side member includes only a single leg portion that extends within said retaining structure defined by said base member and said fastening element detachably fastens together said leg portion of said side member and said base member.
 2. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the side member includes a side arm and a lower arm in a generally L-shaped arrangement, the side arm being aligned with the side surface of the camera when the lower surface of the camera is supported by the base member.
 3. The camera mounting assembly of claim 2 wherein the lower arm has a length shorter than the length of both the base member and the side arm.
 4. The camera mounting assembly of claim 3 wherein the lower arm is integral with the side arm.
 5. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said opposite pair of lower slots are dovetailed slots.
 6. The camera mounting assembly of claim 5 wherein said opposite pair of side slots are dovetailed slots.
 7. The camera mounting assembly of claim 6 further comprising said base member defining a threaded hole through said upper portion of said base member.
 8. The camera mounting assembly of claim 7 wherein said side member defines a cutout to provide access to the side of said camera.
 9. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said base member includes a peripheral edge that projects upward to define a shallow receptacle.
 10. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a threaded member that extends through said base member to secure said camera to said base member.
 11. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein said lower portion of said base member includes said central raised portion having a depressed central portion.
 12. The camera mounting assembly of claim 11 wherein said central portion is generally a U shape.
 13. The camera mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein fastening element includes a rotatable element.
 14. The camera mounting assembly of claim 13 wherein said fastening element includes a rotatable thumb screw. 